Sinker for knitting machines



Nov. 27, 1923 1,475,176

W. H ENGLISH SINKER FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed Nov, 25 1921 %%ZWVENTOR TORNEY3 Patented Nov. 27 1923.

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ILLIAM H. ENGLISH, on PAWTUGKET, RHODE ISLAND, Assienon r0 EARL L.

MILLER, or PAWTUCKET, anonn ISLAND. v

SINKER FOB KNITTING IIIACI-IINES.

Application filed. November 25, 1921. Serial No. 517,463.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. ENGLISH, a'citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pawtucket, county of Providence,Rhode Island, have invented an Improvement in Sinkers for Knitting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention, althoughv directed to an improved form of sinker particularly adapted for use in connection with the knitting ma chine shown in my co-pending application Serial Number 490,260, may be used in connection with other knitting machines in which a sinker of the character described may be found, to be useful and particularly in cases in whichit is desired to have the parallel threadsin close proximity to one another.

My invention aims to produce a type of sinker which will permit of the maximum closeness of parallel threads and at the same time give ampleroom for the operation of the needle betweenthe sinkers. 1 I have not illustrated the operating mechanism of the knitting machine in connection with which my improved sinker is used, since this mechanism may be any suitable conventional mechanism, or that illustrated in my said co-pending application, to which my improved sinker is particularly adapted, but I have merely shown in the drawings attached to this specification detail views of the sinker in connection with the thread and a portion of one of the needles.

Fig. 1 shows a plan view of two of my improved sinkers and a cooperating needle;

Fig. 2, a side view thereof; and

Fig. 3, a view of the same side as shown in Fig. 2, showino the manner in which the thread is guided'liy the sinker;

Fig. 4c, a view of the opposite side from that shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5, an end view.

The sinker of my said copending application as described therein consists of a pair of upstanding ears forming a trough-like structure through which the thread runs and having an extension which extends beyond the vertical plane of the needles. The cars are so shaped and located with respect to the needles that the thread will be held against the back of the needles at the time that the latches of the needles are open. This structure, while entirely adequate where a close spacing of the cords is not required, occupies by reason of the double-ear construction, a considerable space and interferes with the free operation of the needles if spaced closely together. In my improved device, which forms the subject-matter of this application, I have modified the construction so as to require the minimum thickness of sinker at the point at which the needle operates, -while retaining the advantageous features of the sinker of my said co-pending application,

Accordingly, as shown in the drawings, my improved sinker comprises a fiatmetallic guide portion 1, having an aperture 2, and a shoulder 3 down which the transverse thread runs from suitable bobbins and guides so as to be held against theback of the-needle 4 when the latch is open. 5 indicates a longitudinal thread which is delivered from suitable bobbins (not shown) and which is run through the sinker in the manner shown in 3 and the portions of the sinker forming the walls on opposite sides of the guide hole 2 in the line of the thread are cut away as at 6 and/7, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. Since the thickness of the metal which is required to give the sinker sufiicient lateral stiffness is relatively considerable, the cutting away of the walls as shown in the drawings permits the thread to lie substantially wholly within the cut away portion and the'clearance allowed for the needle between adjacent sinkers is not substantially interfered with.

Communicating with the cut away portion 7 is a trough-like horn or extension 8 which takes the longitudinal thread from the guide. This trough-like extension is necessarily of slightly greater width than the thread, since a wall of metal on each side of the thread must be provided,but since this trough is beyond the vertical line of the needles, its additional width is unobjectionable. As may be clearly seen in Fig. 1, the trough-like extensions of the sinkers may be located substantially in contact, but nevertheless, if parallelism of the sinkers be maintained, an ample clearance is provided for the'operati-on of the needles, it being understood that the needles operate in a vertical direction with respect to the sinkers in the usual manner.

In use, the needle 4 will reciprocate vertically between the sinkers in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and grasp a transverse thread, which is delivered from suitable bobbins and through suitable guides, not shown and which form no part of the present invention, the thread being held against the back of the needle 4: when the latch is open, because of shoulder 3 down which the transverse thread runs. On the downward stroke, or descent of the needle 4, the transverse thread is carried downwa-rdly between adjacent sinkers, as will be obvious from the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and by suitable mechanism forming no part of the present invention, the sinker is moved longitudinally, whereby the needle 4: and the sinker will form a loop to surround the longitudinal thread.

While I have only shown one form of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to confine myself thereto, as

many modifications may be made without departing from its spirit. 7

What I claim is: r i

1 A sinker for knitting machines comprising a thread guide and a trough-like portion adapted to take the thread after leaving the guide.

2. A sinker for knitting machines comprising a thread guide and a trough-like portion having one end adjacent the thread guide and adapted to take the thread after leaving the guide.

3. A sinker for knitting machines comprising a flat metallic member provided with an aperture forming a thread guide and a trough-like extension within which the thread is adapted to lie after leaving the guide.

4-. A sinker for knitting machines comprising a flat metallic member having an aperture in the body portion thereof forming a thread guide, the portions of the metallic member forming opposite walls of the aperture being cut away upon opposite sides.

5. A sinker for knitting machines comprising a flat metallic member having an aperture forminga thread guide the portions of the metallic member forming the opposit walls of the aperture in the line ofthe thread being cut away upon opposite sides. r

6. A sinker for knitting machines comprising a flat metallic member having an aperture forming a thread guide the portions of the metallic member forming the opposite walls of the aperture in the line of the thread being cut away upon opposite sides and a trough-like extension communicating with one of the cut away portions.

7. A sinker for knitting machines comprising a guide portion having an aperture forming a guide. through which the thread is adapted to run extending substantially to the vertical plane of the needles and a trough-like extension located beyond the vertical plane of the needles, adapted to take the thread as it leaves the guide and of greater thickness than the guide portion.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 21st day of November, 1921.

WILLIAM H. ENGLISH. 

